Terms of reference: ORR’s Research and Development Advisory Group

Scope

1. ORR’s Research and Development Advisory Group (RDAG) was established in 2007 to help ORR discharge one of its principle railway safety functions under Schedule 3 paragraph 2(2) of the Railways Act 2005:

‘…to make such arrangements as it considers appropriate for the carrying out of research in connection with the railway safety purposes and for the publication of the results of such research; and to encourage research by others in that connection.’

2. Although this statutory duty only relates to health and safety matters, ORR’s Safety Regulation Committee (SRC) agreed on 17 December 2013 that as this requires a review of all R&D associated with the industry, the scope of RDAG should cover both ORR’s health & safety and non-safety functions.

Purpose 3. To provide assurance that this duty has been discharged RDAG will send an annual update to the Health &Safety Regulation Committee, informing it about:

- the research that has and is taking place relating to the whole rail industry and where applicable, how this maps to ORR’s strategic risks; and

- key areas considered and addressed by the group during the period of the report.

4. RDAG will carry out its function by harnessing the information, knowledge, expertise and experience from across each of its Directorates. Its objectives will be to:

- keep up to date with research activities that relate both to ORR’s strategic risk priorities and non-safety interests;
- identify and consider in relation to R&D related to safety whether there are any gaps in research that need to be addressed;
- establish ORR’s own strategic view of what research is needed to advance or address safety and non-safety matters within the rail industry;
- liaise with our stakeholders to encourage research to be carried out to fill any gaps and other potential research areas identified by the group; • monitor ORR’s success in influencing other bodies to act on recommendations proposed by RSSB and others as a result of research studies; and

• identify when it is appropriate for ORR itself to commission and fund research itself and make appropriate recommendations to ORR’s Executive.

**Research funding**

5. Where RDAG identifies a need for research that cannot be met by another means, and it can demonstrate significant potential benefit to the railway industry from undertaking such research, then it is able to seek approval from ExCo for funding to be provided from ORR’s contingency fund.

**Membership**

6. RDAG will include representation from: railway safety (RS); Railway planning and performance (RPP) and Railway Markets and Economics (RME). Others from across ORR and the wider industry (such as RSSB and Network Rail) may be invited as appropriate in line with the agenda.

**Frequency of meetings**

7. Meetings will take place at least three times each year.

**Secretariat**

8. RSD will provide secretariat support to RDAG. The secretary’s responsibilities will include:

• circulating details of in progress and published research;

• schedule and prepare agendas for RDAG meetings;

• taking meeting notes;

• circulating meeting papers;

• ensuring RDAG is updated on agreed actions; and

• update the ORRacle RDAG page as required.

*Revised: August 2016*